Hotel Inspection Leads To Pennsburg Arrests Police

What began as a health inspection at a Pennsburg hotel yesterday morning ended late in the afternoon with two drug arrests and a third person being charged with disorderly conduct.

Larry Roeder, commissioner of the Upper Perkiomen Police District, said one resident of the Hotel Harley, on 4th Street in Pennsburg, was charged with possession of cocaine and another was charged with disorderly conduct.

Drug charges against a third, unnamed person residing at the hotel are pending, Roeder said.

Arlene B. Stevenson was arraigned on the possession charge and sent to Montgomery County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. Roeder said the women had in her possession a small amount of cocaine.

Richard Thorton was charged with disorderly conduct, according to Roeder.

The alleged offenses were discovered in the midst of a hotel sanitation inspection conducted by Pennsburg health officer Dr. Henry Kneidinger. He was accompanied by State Police Liquor Control Enforcement officers and Upper Perkiomen Police.

While inspecting several rooms, police saw in plain view items believed to be controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, he said.

Three rooms were sealed, and a search warrant was obtained from District Justice Catherine Hummel, according to Roeder.

Dogs from the Canine Drug Enforcement unit in the Montgomery County district attorney's office were summoned to the hotel to continue the search.

Several health and LCB violations also were found at the hotel. Owner Peter Balodis was cited and given an unspecified period of time to correct the health problems.